Driving mechanism for chainless bicycles.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906. J. S. GOPELAND.

DRIVING MEGHANISM FOR OHAINLESS BIGYGLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1897.

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No.. 821,340. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

J. S. GOPBLAND.

DRIVINGu MBGHANISM FOR GHAINLESS BICYGLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1897.

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JAMES S. COPELAND, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO POPE MAN UFACr URIN G COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEWJERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

l.DFIIVINC NIECHANISIVI FOFI` GHAINLESS BICYCLES.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

To LZZ whom, t may concern:

Beit known that l, JAMES S. COPELAND, a citizen ofthe United States, anda resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDriving Mechanisms for Bicycles, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art canmake and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of velocipedes and such light vehiclesin which the driving mechanism is operated by the rider, and especiallyamong other forms to that subclass of such vehicles in which the drivingmechanism is made up of gears as distinguished from those vehicles inwhich a drive chain is used to connect the crank-shaft and thedriving-wheel, but is not wholly limited to that.

The object of my invention is to provide a gear driving mechanism inwhich the bearings on the main driving-gear shall be reduced in numberand also tb provide improved. means for connecting the cranks; and italso further consists in details of the several parts making up themachine as a whole and in the combination of such parts, as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularlypointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a top or plan view of the rearportion of a bicycleframe, showing the parts directly related to thedriving mechanism and with such parts broken away in section to showconstruction. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the crankbracket,rear bracket, and side-frame tube. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, onenlarged scale, of that portion of the driving mechanism locatedadjacent to the crank-shaft. Fig. 4C is a detail top or plan view of therear portion of a bicycle-frame and of the parts directly related to thedriving mechanism with parts broken away in section, illustrating theconstruction and showing a modified form of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a, denotes a crank hanger orbracketv-that is, a somewhat narrow circular box or casinglocated in thecentral plane of the frame and having suitable devices, as lugs t t',for the attachment of the down-tube and other member and lugs c c forthe attachment of the rear fork members d and e. This bracket has aeripheral wall g and a side wall g', the latter ocated at one endthereof and with an opening therethrough for the crank-shaft andslightly larger than the diameter of tne shaft, and on the opposite endof the bracket is an interior thread to receive the threaded edge of acone consisting ofthe outer section h and inner section 7L. The outersection .h is backed up by a locking-ring i, that serves to close andpack the joints and also to hold the section against accidentalmovement. The inner section 7L is secured in a central opening in theouter section by means of interengaging screw-threads, this sectionbelliglbacked up by a locking-ring t', similar to the locking-ring fi,although smaller in diameter, but used for the same purpose. A flange h2is located adjacent to the opening in the section h of the cone, thisflange forming a recess h', into which a flange 7c on the main drivinggear-wheel r projects. A proj ectioii or flange h4 is located on theperiphery of the inner section h of the cone, a portion of the ball-racebeing located between this flange h4 and the flange h2 on the outersection. This portion of the ball-race is of angular shape, and by meansof the adjustable connection between the two sections of the cone anywear between the parts may be readily taken up. The sloping surfaces onthe cone are preferably arranged in a plane obliquely to a line passingdiametrically through two of the balls located directly opposite eachother on the cone. v

Within the bracket the main driving-gear lc is located, with theball-case for the balls formed in an angular recess on the inner surfaceof the flange 7c on the gear, the walls of the recess being arranged inopposition to the bearing-surface of the sections of the cone justdescribed.

The crank-shaft is made in two sections Z l', each section having aprojection m m, adapted to fit in sockets 3 in the hub of the gear 7.Should ers Z2 are formed on each of the crankshaft sections and. areengaged by a flange n on each of the sleeve lock-nuts n, the innersurface of the wall of each of these sleeves being threaded to engage anexterior thread on each end of the hub k2 of the gear 7c, and by meansof which the crank-shaft sections are firmly secured to said gear. Thesleeve lock- TOO nuts n closely fit a central opening in the side Wallof the `gear-case and an op ening in the inner section h of thesectional cone, any suitable packing being used to prevent the en``trance of dirt or dust within the case.

A connecting-shaft 0 is located along one side of the frame, preferablyextending' through the side fork c, and it supports on the front endv asmall bevel gear-wheel Q and on the rear end a bevel gear-wheel o2.` Thebevel-gear o projects into the casing a and engages. the teeth on themain gear. The -forWard end of this connecting-shaft is provided with acone-bearing o3, and it coperates with a sectional ball-case o4,composed of two rings which are screwed into sockets in thecrank-hanger.

In the form of device herein shown the cone-bearing is formed on the hubof the gear o', projections o5 on this hub engaging recesses o6 on theconnecting-shaft o, these projections and recesses being similar tothose already described with reference to the sectional crank-shaft andthe main gear, a tapered nut o7 being employed to hold the gear l inplace on the shaft.

As thus constructed the bicycle-frame may be built with an extremelynarrow tread. The balls are arranged in a position directly back of thelocation of the teeth on the gear-wheel, and at least two of theoppositely-arranged supporting-surfaces of the l cone are located atnearly right angles to the ings.

line of thrust caused by the resistance of the vehicle to forwardmovement under a force applied to the crank-shaft, as by means of thecranks and pedals. The difficulties presented by this end thrust on thebearings in older forms of construction are practically avoided in thisimprovement.

In the form shown in the drawings the rear wheel has a barrel-hub p, toone end of which is secured, as by means of threaded parts, a gear-wheelp', this gear-Wheel meshing with the forward-facing gear-wheel 02 on therear end of the connecting-shaft o. The end of the hub p projects into abracket or casing g, into which the rear end of the connectingshaftextends and within which ball-bearings to support it are located, andthe gear on the end of the hub p is also located within this bracket.The bracket q is shown in side elevation of uniform scale in Fig. 2 ofthe draw- Within the bracket g and in line with the axis of thedriving-Wheel is a threaded socket g', in which the threaded end of thebolt r is held by interengaging threaded parts, a projection in whichthis socket g is formed being located within the hollow end of the hub.On the back of the gear-Wheel 'p a cone is formed for ball-bearings, anda ball-case p2, secured, as by means of interengaging threaded parts onthe inner face of the bracket g, carries the complementary part of theball-race and also serves to close the opening between the edge of thebracket g' and the' outer surface of the hub p. This bolt 1 serves toconnect the fork members d and e, and on the end opposite the bracket git is threaded and receives a threaded sleeve s. This sleeve s bears thecone s', which forms part of the ball-race for the ball-bearings at thisend of the axle, the case s2 being secured to the end of the-hub, as byinterengaging threaded parts, and by changing the position of the sleeves on the bolt and the case p2 in ythe bracket the contact of thegear-wheels o2 landp may be adjusted. A lock-nutt on the end of thesleeve forms a shoulder against which the toe-piece of the frame memberrests, and a thimble u on the outer side of the toe-piece is held by anut (not shown in the drawings) on the outer end of the bolt. At therear end of the shaft o the ball-race for the bearings is formed on thecone back of the gear-wheel and the case o8, which is adjustably securedto the rear end of thebracket g. This case also forms a cover for therear end of the shaft and closes the opening in the bracket.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 of the drawingsthe balls are located adjacent to the periphery of the main driving-gearl; but in this construction the cone 2 is adjustably secured to the hubof the driving-wheel and the ball-case 3 is adjustably secured withinthe casing or crankhanger, the balls being supported by this case and bythe back of the gear-wheel and the cone supported on the hub thereof. Alock-nut 4 prevents accidental movement of the cone, and a cover 5closes the side of the casing 6, being engaged therewith, as by means ofinterengaging screw-threads. In this form of construction the cranks 7are connected with the hub of the main drivinggear 1 by means ofexterior threads fitting the interior-threaded surface of the hub, thecranks being prevented from independent rotation, as by means ofengaging recesses and lugs located on opposing crank-shafts. A cap 8 issecured to the hub of the gear and has a flange overlying a shoulder onone of the crank-sh afts, this cap fitting within a central opening inthe cover 5. The gear 9 is secured to the connecting-shaft in anysuitable manner and is supported on ball-bearings located between thesectional ball-case l0, secured to the bracket and the cones formed on asleeve 11, secured to the hub of the gear-wheel and theconnecting-shaft.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination in a vehicle having geardriving mechanism, a driving-wheel, a crankshaft bracket located in thecentral plane of the machine, a main bevel gear-wheel supported Withinthe bracket7 power-transmitting means operatively connecting the gearand driving wheel, a portion of the ball-race formed in the gear at ornear its periphery,

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one section of a cone secured to the bracket, the other section of thecone secured to the first section, and a single row of balls located inthe ball-race between the gear and sectional cone all substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination in a vehicle having driving mechanism, a crank-shaftbracket located in the central plane of the machine, a main gear-wheel,a driving-wheel, power-transmitting means operatively connecting thegear and driving-wheel, a portion ofthe ballrace located near or at theperiphery of the gear, one section of a cone adjustably secured to thebracket, the opposite section of the cone adjustably secured to thefirst section, and balls located in the ball-race between the sectionalcone and the gear, all substantially as described.

3. In combination in a vehicle having ear driving mechanism, a narrowcrank-s aft bracket located in the central plane of the machine, a maingear-wheel supported within the bracket, a driving-wheel,power-transmitting means operatively connecting the gear anddriving-wheel, a ball-race formed on the gear-wheel, a sectional coneadjustably secured to the bracket and forming a cover therefor, andballs supported between the cone and gear, all substantially asdescribed.

4. In combination inavehicle, consistin of a frame having a narrowcrank-shaft brac {et located in the central plane of the frame, a maingear-wheel supported centrally within the bracket, cranks secured toopposite sides of said gear-wheel and projecting without the bracket, adriving-Wheel supported in the frame, and connections between saiddrivingwheel and main driving-gear.

54. In combination in a vehicle including a frame, supporting-wheels anddriving mechanism, a bolt secured between side parts of the frame, adriving-wheel having its hub surrounding said bolt, connections betweenthe driving-wheel and driving mechanism, a ball-case secured within thehub and facing inward, a thimble adjustably mounted upon the bolt andextending through said ball-case and having means for moving it alongthe bolt, said thimble havinga cone located thereon within the hub.

6. In combination in a vehicle, a frame including a narrow crank-shaftbracket located in the central plane of the frame and of circularoutline, rear fork sides connected to said bracket near the peripherythereof, and a casing for the pinion of a connecting-'shaft formed onone of the fork sides in position for said pinion to project through theside wall of the crank-shaft bracket.

7. In combination in a vehicle, a crankshaft bracket, one section of acone adjustably supported at one end of the bracket and forming aportion of the cover therefor, a section of the cone adjustablysupported by the first section and forming a portion of the cover forsaid bracket, a main bevel gearwheel located in the bracket,ball-bearings located immediately back of the teeth on said bevelgear-wheel and between it and the sectional cone, a main driving-wheelmounted in the frame, power-transmitting means connecting the maingear-Wheel and the drivingwheel, and means for operating the maingearwheel, all substantially as described.

8. In a vehicle, in combination with a frame including a bracket, onesection of a cone removably secured to said bracket, another section ofa cone removably secured to the first section, a gear-wheel having acircular ilange with a groove cooperating with the cone, balls locatedin the ball-race between the cone and flange, cranks removably securedto opposite sides of the hub of the gear, a driving-wheel, and operativeconnections between the gear and driving-Wheel.

9. In combination in a vehicle having Gear driving mechanism, a narrowcrank-shaft bracket located in the central plane of the machine, a maingear-wheel supported within the bracket, a driving-wheel,power-transmitting means operatively connecting the gear anddriving-wheel, a ball-race formed on the gear-wheel at a point near theback of the teeth thereon, a sectional cone adj ustably secured to thebracket and forming a cover therefor, and balls supported in theball-race between the cone and gear.

JAMES S. COPELAND.

Witnesses:

HERMANN F. CUNTZ, HARRIE E. HART.

